The Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence Director
of Operations and Plans, Kuwaiti Air Force Maj. Gen. Abdulrazaq Al-Awadhi, and
the Defense Attaché of Kuwait City, Brig. Gen. Rick B. Mattson, a U.S. Embassy
senior defense official, joined several other Kuwaiti military officials to
tour Lincoln and observe maritime security operations in the Arabian Gulf.

The visit was designed to strengthen
military-to-military relations and to demonstrate U.S. commitment to long-term
stability and security in the region.

From the ship's flag bridge and
vulture's row, Kuwaiti military officials and cadets viewed fly-bys as Kuwaiti
pilots rode in the backseats of two F/A-18F Super Hornets assigned to the
Bounty Hunters of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 2. The guests also viewed an
F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Kestrels of VFA 137 in the ship's hangar
bay.

Al-Awadhi said the visit would increase
the cadets' understanding of the importance of Lincoln's mission in the region.

"Many of the cadets in this group
have recently graduated," Al-Awadhi said. "We have been involved with
exchange programs in the past, and this embark is to operate with friends in
the area. It's also a great opportunity for the cadets to come out and see this
ship."

Lincoln is currently deployed with
Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, which also includes embarked Carrier Air Wing
(CVW) 2, guided-missile cruiser Cape St. George (CG 71) and Destroyer Squadron
9, comprised of guided-missile destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Sterett
(DDG 104). CSG 9 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility
conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts
and combat flight operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.